TAMPA – While the mystery deepens over Scott Stevens’ relationship with the team he has served so well for so long, GM Lou Lamoriello last night claimed he pulled the plug on a conference call the Devils’ injured captain was scheduled to have with the press Wednesday.

“I basically did that,” Lamoriello said of calling off the conference call in which Stevens was expected to detail his last month of rehab from post-concussion syndrome, which has idled him since Jan. 7.

Still, rumbles persist that the has been friction between Stevens and his camp and the Devils’ brass.

Lamoriello apparently is less than pleased at speculation that there is suspicion inside the organization that Stevens could actually be suffering burnout rather than post-concussion syndrome. He would not, however, provide a reason for calling off the conference call.

One of the issues is the description of Stevens as “ill” on the Devils’ injury list, a situation which continued last night as the Devils visited the Lightning here. Stevens sat out his 38th straight game last night.

“Absolutely, 100 percent, there has never been a question,” Lamoriello said of Stevens’ injury. “I’m telling you, this is not an issue.”

Stevens’ ailment has not been attributed to any single incident, although one suspect instant was when he was struck on the left ear by a slap shot here in the second round of last year’s playoffs. Stevens said in training camp that he didn’t feel completely right until the middle of the summer, although he didn’t miss any postseason games from the injury.

Meanwhile, Scott Gomez was trying to limp into action last night after being struck on the foot by a shot in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime victory over the Panthers.

“Skate trouble,” Gomez said in the finest tradition of New Jersey’s injury disclosure track record.

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Devils complete four-game road trip tonight in Atlanta.

Igor Larionov, Jiri Bicek and Tommy Albelin were expected to sit out last night.

Devs were 4-1-1 in six entering last night.

New Jersey had not beaten a playoff-berth holding team on the road in seven (0-6-0-1) entering last night.